Vol. 112 No.

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Collegian

Marissa Kutoloski/Collegian

Penn State Head Coach

1966 – 2011
t was always going to end. That was certain. But for the sidelines much longer. But he didn’t let those
I years, even decades, no one could pinpoint just when
and how Joe Paterno would end his tenure as the head
setbacks stop him from coming to work.
It appeared no imaginable circumstance could cause
coach of the Penn State football team. Paterno to stop coaching his players about not only how
Some thought it would happen in the 1980s, when his to play football, but how to live their lives.
team was on top. He was in his 60s and would have a life And then the unimaginable happened.
after football. But he kept coaching, and his teams kept
winning. More than half a century of teaching young people how
to act with character and poise ended amidst allegations
During the next decade, his teams kept winning. And of men failing to act responsibly to maintain the well
although Paterno coached against men a generation being of children and adolescents.
younger, he kept going.
So, on November 9, 2011 – like he had for more than 60
Not even the “Dark Years,” when his teams struggled to years – Paterno decided to do what he believed was best
earn victories, could make Paterno consider calling it for Penn State and announced he would retire at the end
quits. He knew his teams were close to returning to of the season. However, he wouldn’t get the chance.
prominence.
The situation surrounding the school left the man who
And the Lions did. But a touch of bad luck that caused devoted many of his years doing so much for others
poor health made many believe Paterno couldn’t roam saying he wished he had done more.
 J O E PA T E R N O

1950s
2 | THURSDAY, NOV. 10, 2011 THE DAILY COLLEGIAN

Courtesy of Penn State archives

Penn State Assistant Coach Joe Paterno instucts players during a coaches clinic in 1952. Penn State coach Rip Engle is watching him.

By Art Benning
COLLEGIAN STAFF MEMBER, 1951
In 1950, I was the Assistant
Sports Editor and was given what
would turn out to be a gem of an
assignment.
I was the first media person to
interview Paterno when he came
on campus, a tribute to an astute
assignment editor, or quite likely,
Ray Koehler, who was Sports
Editor. Football and boxing were
my regular beats, along with a col-
umn called “Off the Cuff.” The
resulting story made the front page,
and, I believe, was passed on to The
Centre Daily Times, as we often did
with major stories.
A few years later I had the oppor-
tunity to chat with Coach at a Penn
State Rally in New York, on a Friday
night before a Saturday game with
Army at West Point.
I asked him if he remembered
being interviewed, and he was kind
enough to say he did. We talked
about the team, and he made a
point of thanking The Collegian for
helping to keep student fans enthu-
siastic about the football program.
As the quarterbacks coach (hav-
ing been a star quarterback for Rip
Engel at Brown), he was flying
under our radar for the next year or
two. Little did any of us then realize
what an amazing career he would
carve out for himself, his college,
his fans, and college football.
Whatta guy!
Benning is a retired copy editor
and author.

Dec. 19, 1959:

1950: Penn State defeats
Joe Paterno joined his 1956: Alabama in Liberty
college coach at Brown Penn State offensive Bowl on a fake field
Rip Engle as an assis- lineman Sam Valentine goal touchdown pass 1950’s:
tant coach at Penn earns All-American thrown by sophomore Penn State football
State. honors. Galen Hall. posts a 62-28-4 record.

1949: 1955: 1958: 1959:

Joe Paterno graduates Paterno missed the first Joe Paterno and Sue Penn State QB Richie
from Brown with a game of his coaching Pohland meet at the Lucas wins 1959
degree in English career against Army library during Sue’s Maxwell Award and
literature. following the death of freshman year finishes 2nd in
his father, Angelo. Heisman voting.

BEFORE THE ’50S: NON-FOOTBALL NEWS

After coaching Brown from 1944-
1949, Rip Engle became the head
coach at Penn State in 1950 and
1950- Korean War breaks out- North
Korean forces invade South Korea;
South Korea is aided by the UN, led

“
by Gen. Douglas MacArthur
brought his former quarterback 1950- First color television broadcast,
and cornerback with him. Paterno done by CBS
holds a share of Brown's career 1951- Julius and Ethel Rosenburg Joe Paterno is one
interception record at 14 and also convicted of espionage
played basketball for a year. Upon 1951- First commercial computer is
of the good things
graduation, against his parents introduced by Remington Rand, called about football. Joe
UNIVAC.
wishes, he passed up law school to
1952-“Rock and Roll” is coined
Paterno is one of
join Engle's staff at Penn State.
1953-Elizabeth II is crowned. the good things
1953- Korean War ends
1953- Khrushchev appointed to lead about Penn State

”
REGULAR SEASON the Soviet Union; detonates first and about college
RECORD: 62-28-4 hydrogen bomb
1953- Sir Edmund Hillary and football in general.
BOWL GAMES : 1-0 Tenzing Norgay are the first people to Dave Robinson, Defensive End
climb Mt. Everest 1959-62
1954- Supreme Court Decision-
ALL AMERICAN Brown v. Board of Education- outlaws
Sam Valentine - Guard segregation in public schools.
Rich Lucas - QB
 J O E PA T E R N O

1960s
THE DAILY COLLEGIAN THURSDAY, NOV. 10, 2011 | 3

Courtesy of Penn State archives

Front from left to right: George; Welsh; Jim O'Hora; Joe Paterno; Earl Bruce. Back from left to right: Frank Patrick; Phillips; J.T. White; Dan Radakovich; Joe McMullen

By Ira Miller
COLLEGIAN STAFF MEMBER
When Joe Paterno took over as
Penn State’s football coach in
1966, the program was nothing
like it is today. Of course, this was
a different era:
No ESPN, no internet, no lights
in Beaver Stadium, which was less
than halfthe size it is today.
Everything was low key.
Students were admitted to games
for free. No more than two games
a year were televised. All the
games began at 1:00 or1:30 on
Saturday. Once a year, about 5,000
seats were given to high school-
band members around
Pennsylvania, who performed at
halftime.
Practices were open to the
media. I remember eating bagels
anddrinking coffee in the locker
room with coaches and players on
Sundaymornings after games.
Now, reporters never get into the
locker room, ever.
Paterno was a different kind of
coach. He was open, and he was
bold.
He spent Friday nights before
games in bull sessions with the
writers, as much as telling them
what he was going to do on
Saturday. Again, this wasa differ-
ent era, but there was a trust built
up.
He had a vision. He called it the
Grand Experiment, producing
big-time college football with real
students. Three of his first eight
teams were undefeated and they
produced, among others, a
Grammy-winning composer
(Mike Reid), an orthopedic sur-
geon (Dave Joyner), a big-time
real estate developer (Don Abbey)
and a major player in newspaper
publishing (Charlie Pittman).
He coached aggressively, he
told his players not to be afraid to
lose, and he backed it up. Long
before overtime came to college
football, Paternonever played for a
tie.
Twice during the undefeated
streak, his team won games 15-14
by going for a two-point conver-
sion at the end. Another time, it
wound up in a tie game after fail-
ing on a 4th-and-1 play from its
own 15-yard line.
That was in a Gator Bowl
against Florida State. But Joe
could laughat himself. The very
next fall, in the season opener, he
called a fourth downplay again
deep in his own territory and later
acknowledged it was spurred by
that earlier failure. If only we
could be laughing at that kind of
failurenow.
Because for sure, we have fail-
ure.
But we don’t have laughter.
Miller retired NFL writer for
the San Francisco Chronicle and
past president Pro Football Hall
of Fame selection committee.

1960:
On December 20 No. 1961:
16 Lions win Liberty On December 31 No.
Bowl v.unranked 17 Lions win Gator
Oregon, 41-12. They Bowl v. No. 13 1966:
finish their season with 1962: Joe becomes head
a record of 7-3. Georgia Tech, 30-15.
Joe and Sue get married coach

1967: 1968: 1969: 1969:

On December 30 No. 10 No. 3 Lions win On January 1, 1970, Mike Reid (Lineman)
Lions tie for Gator Bowl Orange Bowl against Lions win Orange wins the Outland
v. unranked Florida No. 6 Kansas, 15-14. Bowl v. Kansas, 15-14. Trophy and the
State, 17-17. They finish They have an undefeat- This resulted in a sec- Maxwell Award
their season with a ed, untied, perfect sea- ond consecutive unde-
record of 8-2. son. feated season and a
final No. 2 ranking in
the grand final poll for
the Lions.

“
OVERALL REGULAR NON-FOOTBALL NEWS
He made you
understand, when RECORD: 35-7-1 1960- First televised Presidential
debate; JFK elected and is the youngest
you're an 18,19 ALL-AMERICAN person ever elected President
year old, just 1961- Construction of Berlin Wall
Bob Mitinger - Defensive End begins
because you're a Dave Robinson Defensive End 1961- Bay of Pigs invasion
Roger Kochman - Halfback 1962- Cuban Missile Crisis
football player, Glenn Ressler - Center/Guard - 1963- JFK assassinated
doesn't make you Ted Kwalick - Tight End 1963- Beatles release first full
Dennis Onkotz - Linebacker album, Please Please Me
any better or any 1963- MLK Jr.’s “I Have A Dream”
Mike Reid - Defensive Tackle
worse. Football is Charlie Pittman - Halfback
speech in Washington, D.C.
1964- The U.S. Civil Rights Act is
not the most Neal Smith - Safety passed
SECOND TEAM 1965-Alexei Leonov is first to
important thing in Chuck Sieminski - Offensive “walk” in space
your life. I always Tackle 1966- Miranda Rights written
Rich Buzin - Offensive Tackle 1967- First Super Bowl
carry that with me Tim Montgomery - Safety 1968- Martin Luther King Jr. and

”
in my life after Dennis Onkotz - Linebacker Robert Francis Kennedy both assassi-
nated
Mike Reid - Defensive Tackle
Penn State. Steve Smear - Defensive Tackle 1969- Woodstock
1969- Apollo 11 lands on the moon
Jack Ham, Linebacker.
1968-1970
 J O E PA T E R N O

1970s
THE DAILY COLLEGIAN THURSDAY, NOV. 10, 2011 | 4

Courtesy of Penn State archives

Coach Joe Paterno speaks to his team after is Cotton Bowl Victory over Texas. Penn State won the game, 30-6.

By Jerry Micco porate. there. It is still the only one on the

COLLEGIAN STAFF MEMBER, 1977-1979
Covering the Penn State football
program was different in the late
70s than it was the past 10-15 years.
It was a different time and a differ-
ent group of people that were run-
ning things at the football offices in
Rec Hall.
Paterno was different, of course.
Much younger, more involved in
every aspect of his team and it just
seemed more casual and less cor-
Penn State was a national power-
house. The first game I covered
with the 1979 Sugar Bowl, a 14-7
PSU loss to Alabama. I covered the
Tide for the paper as I was going to
be the incoming sports editor. But I
can remember Paterno being much
more media friendly and jocular.
Again, it was a looser and more
relaxed time.
I'd only been to his office twice.
And I will never forget seeing John
Capaletti's Heisman Trophy in
PSU campus. Paterno always was
good with the Collegian. Gave us his
time and some insights.
Paterno's legacy will forever be
tarnished by the scandal that has
now crushed the entire university.
When you think back to the era
when I knew Paterno, it seems like
a very distant speck in the rear view
mirror.
Micco is currently the assistant
managing editor at the Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette

Sept. 26, 1970:

A 41-13 loss to No. 18
Colorado ends Penn
State’s 23-game win-
ning streak.
“You hope days like
this aren't going to
happen, but sometimes
they just do,” Paterno
said.
Nov. 5, 1976:
Paterno said an
Jan. 1, 1979:
inspired Penn State
Jan 1, 1974: squad played its best
A 14-7 loss to No. 2
Paterno caps his third Alabama, coached by
offensive game in a
undefeated season with Bear Bryant, in the
41-20 win over N.C.
an Orange Bowl win Sugar Bowl ruins the
State to give the coach
against LSU. Lions’ perfect season.
his 100th win.

Jan. 1, 1970: Jan 1, 1972: Jan. 1, 1975: Dec. 25, 1977:

A 10-3 win over No. 6 Penn State comes up 41-20 win over Baylor A 42-30 win over No.
Missouri in the Orange with a 30-6 win over in Cotton Bowl. 15 Arizona State in
Bowl seals the Lions’ Texas in Cotton Bowl. Fiesta Bowl helped
second-straight Penn State finish the
undefeated season. year at No. 5.

REGULAR SEASON
RECORD: 96-22 NON-FOOTBALL NEWS
BOWL RECORD: 6-4 1970- The Beatles break up
1971- The Pentagon Papers published
1972- Watergate Scandal begins
ALL-AMERICANS
Collegian File Photo

1972- U.S. bombs North Vietnam on

Jack Ham, Linebacker
Dave Joyner, Linebacker
Lydell Mitchell, Halfback
Charlie Zapiec, Linebacker
Bruce Bannon, Defensive End
John Hufnagel, QB
John Skorupan, Linebacker
John Cappelletti, Halfback
Randy Crowder, Defensive Tackle
Ed O'Neil, Linebacker
John Nessel, Offensive Tackle
Christmas
1973- Roe v Wade legalizes abortion
1973- First mobile phone invented
1974- All the President's Men is pub-
lished
1975- Vietnam War ends
1975- Bill Gates and Paul Allen found
the Microsoft Corporation
1976- U.S. celebrates Bicentennial
1976- Viking 2 spacecraft lands on
Mars

“
Mike Hartenstine, Defensive End
Chris Bahr, Kicker 1976- Steve Jobs and Stephen Wozniak
I think he’s done an outstanding job of cre- Greg Buttle, Linebacker found Apple Computer
Tom Rafferty, Guard 1977- Elvis Presley dies
ating an identity for an entire university the Kurt Allerman, Linebacker 1977- Star Wars Episode IV: A New
Keith Dorney, Tackle Hope is released
way the ran the football program. I'm proud Randy Sideler, Guard 1978- Jim Jones' followers commit
to have been associated with him and the Matt Bahr, Kicker

”
mass suicide in Jonestown, Guyana
Bruce Clark, Defensive tackle
1979- Margaret Thatcher becomes the
things that have happened at Penn State. Chuck Fusina, Quarterback
first woman prime minister of Britain
Pete Harris, Safety
Mickey Shuler, Tight end Matt Millen, Defensive Tackle
1975-1977
 J O E PA T E R N O

1980s
THE DAILY COLLEGIAN THURSDAY, NOV. 10, 2011 | 5

Kim Grewell/Collegian file photo

Joe Paterno, surrounded by players, addresses the crowd after the 1986 National Championship parade in State College.

By Dana O’Neil
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER, 1986-1990
The phone in my Simmons
Hall room rang at about 8:30 in
the morning.
Half asleep – it was one of the
rare days that I didn’t have
an early morning class – I
grumbled a hello into
the receiver (this was back
when phones were attached to
cords).
“Dana, this is Joe Paterno.
Sounds like I woke you up. I
thought you students went to
class.’’
That was my first introduc-
tion to a man that would, if not
define my experience at Penn
State, certainly play a central
part in it. Back when I received
that first call, I was freelancing
for a hometown newspaper,
doing a story on quarterback
Tom Bill.
A year later, my junior year,
I’d be one of the Daily Collegian
football beat reporters and in
my senior year, I’d also serve as
assistant football magazine edi-
tor. Consequently I logged more
than a few of my collegiate
hours listening to Paterno tell
us that his team would give “110
percent” and that his opponent
of the week was a “good, solid
football team” even when it was
No-Name Directional
University of the week.
In 1988, my junior year, Penn
State finished 5-6, the first los-
ing season in Paterno’s career. I
remember being stunned – we
had won a national title in my
freshman year so this losing
thing was new to all of us– but I
can’t say I remember Paterno
being especially testy or defen-
sive.
Winning record or not, you
always had to be on your toes.
Paterno wasn’t afraid to toss a
verbal zinger in response to a
question he deemed foolish nor
was he averse to turning your
question into a question back at
you.
The trick, I learned, was to go
right back at him, even if the
butterfly army was swarming in
your stomach.
If anything, though, Joe
Paterno inadvertently gave me
valuable lessons for my career.
Covering Penn State football
was legit. It was a big-time pro-
gram with a larger-than-life
coach.
Now when the phone rings –
at 6 a.m. or midnight – I always
sound ready. Even if I’m not.
O’Neil now works for
ESPN.com, covering national
college basketball.

1984:
Jan. 1, 1982: For the first time in 14
Penn State beats No. 8 years and third time in 1988:
Oct. 31, 1981: USC 26-10 in Fiesta Paterno’s 19-year Penn State saw its first
Penn State lost 17-14 Bowl. Curt Warner career, Penn State had losing season since
to unranked Miami at won the Outstanding a bowl-less season. The 1938 and Paterno’s
the Orange Bowl and Offensive Player Lions’ season ended first losing season at
lost its No.1 ranking. Award. with a 6-5 record. Penn State.

Dec. 26, 1980: Nov. 28, 1981: Jan. 1, 1983: Jan. 2, 1987:
Penn State beat No. 11 Penn State beats No. 1 Penn State beat No. 1 Penn State beat No. 1
Ohio State 31-39 in the Pittsburgh 48-14 and Georgia 27-23 in the Miami 14-10 in the Fiesta
Fiesta Bowl. The Lions ruined the rival's Sugar Bowl, earning Bowl. The Lions’ won
finished the season undefeated season. the Lions’ first their second national
ranked eighth in the Paterno earned his consensus national championship in five
AP poll. 150th win and the team championship. years.
won the Lambert-
Meadowlands trophy.

REGULAR SEASON NON-FOOTBALL NEWS:

RECORD: 83-26-2
Collegian file photo

1980- President Jimmy Carter boy-

BOWL GAMES : 6-2 cotts Moscow Olympics
1980- John Lennon assassinated
ALL-AMERICANS 1981- First reported cases of AIDS
1981- MTV launches; Video Killed the
Bill Dugan, Offensive tackle
Radio Star by The Buggles is first
Sean Farrell, Guard
music video
Curt Warner, Tailback 1983- President Reagan announces his
Walker Lee Ashley, Defensive plans for a missile defence plan
End 1984- Apple introduces the Macintosh
Kenny Jackson, Receiver personal computer
Mark Robinson, Safety 1986- First Game Boy
Michael Zordich, Safety 1986- Reagan sends arms to Iran in
exchange for hostages

“
Shane Conlan, Outside
1987- Simpsons begins
Linebacker
1988- First computer virus reported
Having played for him for four Chris Conlin, Offensive tackle

”
1989- East German government
D.J. Dozier, Halfback
years, he was instrumental in my Tim Johnson, Defensive Tackle
allows East Berliners to cross into
West Berlin, dismantling the wall
life. It's a sad day in our household. Steve Wisniewski, Guard begins shortly after
James Coates, punt and kick returner Andre Collins, Linebacker 1989- Salvador Dali dies
1984-.1988 Blair Thomas, Halfback 1989- Globe Theatre built
 J O E PA T E R N O

1990s
6 | THURSDAY, NOV. 10, 2011 THE DAILY COLLEGIAN

Courtesy of Penn State archives

Joe Paterno announces that Penn State will join the Big Ten at a press conference.

By Brad Young
COLLEGIAN STAFF MEMBER, 1994-1996
Please forgive the biased choice
of pronoun here. For me, Penn
State will always be ‘we.’ I actual-
ly struggled with that as the
Collegian football beat writer for
the 1995 season.
We were coming off the unde-
feated 1994 season (best Paterno
team ever), and I can still remem-
ber Joe, tan and spry after a sum-
mer on the Jersey shore, opening
his pre-season press conference
by saying that the expectations
were the same as they always
were for us: to contend for a
national title. That all went away
with back-to-back losses to
Wisconsin and Ohio State early in
the conference season.
And so much has gone away
since. On initial recall, it was an
unremarkable season outside of
the excellence of Bobby Engram
(favorite Paterno player ever) and
the emergence of Curtis Enis (oh
how I long now for a free suit from
an agent to be our biggest prob-
lem). Those pre-season expecta-
tions from Joe weren't met. New
Year's Day bowl. Yawn.
But actually, the season stands
out. It is a line of demarcation.
Look at what has happened since
then. The program has never
regained the consistent domi-
nance that it had from the late 60s
to the early 90s. Were there signs
then that would stand as to why?
Maybe a sense of complacency.
Maybe a lack of strategic innova-
tion and top-to-bottom athleti-
cism. Maybe a realization of how
tough the Big Ten could be - on the
field and in the living room. You
could see some of that, to be sure.
Of course, everybody knows
now what else allegedly started
around that same time. We will
always be we, but we will never be
the same as we were then.
Young is currently the associ-
ate publisher of marketing at
Fortune.

Jan. 1, 1992
Penn State beat No. 10 Sept. 4, 1993: Nov. 12, 1994:
Nov. 17,1990: Tennessee 42-17 in the Penn State won its first Penn State beat Illinois
Penn State beat No. 1 Fiesta Bowl. Big Ten game, 38-20 35-31 in a 20-point
Notre Dame 24-21. against Minnesota. comeback.

Jan. 2, 1995: Nov. 8, 1997: Sept. 12, 1998: Nov. 6, 1999:

Penn State beat No. 12 Penn State suffered a Joe Paterno earned his Penn State lost 24-23
Oregon 38-20, giving 34-8 loss at No. 4 300th win, defeating to Minnesota,
Penn State its fifth unde- Michigan, knocking Bowling Green 48-3. knocking the team
feated season and first the team from its No. from its No. 2 ranking.
Big Ten Championship.. 2 ranking.

OVERALL RECORD: 97-26

Collegian Fie Photo

BOWL RECORD: 7-3 NON-FOOTBALL NEWS

1990- Cold War ends; East and West
Germany reunite
1990- Nelson Mandela is freed
ALL-AMERICAN 1991- Warsaw Pact dissolves; USSR
dissolves
Darren Perry, Safety 1993- Nokia sends first text messages
O.J. McDuffie, Receiver 1994- Football star O. J. Simpson is
Lou Benfatti, Defensive Tackle arrested; later aquitted
Kyle Brady,Tight End 1994- World Series is cancelled
Ki-Jana Carter, Running back 1997- Princess Diana dies
Kerry Collins, Quarterback 1997- Scottish scientists clone a
Bobby Engram, receiver Jeff sheep named Dolly
Hartings, Guard 1997- J.K. Rowling publishes first

“
Kim Herring, Safety Harry Potter book
Curtis Enis, Tailback 1998- Google launches search engine
He's put in a lot of years, he's helped a lot LaVar Arrington, Linebacker 1998- Viagra reaches markets
Courtney Brown, Defensive End 1999- Clinton is acquitted of
of people, the community and Penn State. Brandon Shor, Linebacker impeachment charges
He's helped so many kids over 46 years, 1999- Columbine high school tragedy
1999- World population reaches 6 bil-
he was like a father figure. lion
Leonard Humphries, Defensive Back
1989-1991
 J O E PA T E R N O

2000s
THE DAILY COLLEGIAN THURSDAY, NOV. 10, 2011 | 7

Maxwell Kruger/Collegian
Joe Paterno stands with his team as it waits to enter the stadium at the beginning of the football game in 2000.

By Chris Korman
COLLEGIAN STAFF MEMBER, 2000-2004
For students who arrived at Penn
State in August 2000, a 24-6 loss to
Toledo — which, it turns out, has a
football team — served as an intro-
duction to Joe Paterno and the
Nittany Lions.
This tells you a lot about how the
rest of the decade went. Oh, there
were highlights. Larry Johnson ran
for more than 2000 yards and in 2002.
Quarterback Michael Robinson flour-
ished as a senior and led his team to
an 11-1 record capped by a stirring
overtime win over Florida State in
the Orange Bowl.
And a Daryll Clark-led squad start-
ed 2008 with nine wins and came
within 1 second of adding a 10th —
basically guaranteeing a national title
shot.
The magic was still there and, due
to a concerted marketing effort, fan
fervor reached new levels.
But at other times, the program
teetered. An ornery Paterno coddled
his stars in an attempt to shield them
from an intense media environment,
but wouldn’t recruit with much fer-
vor.
He was hesitant to make needed
changes on the coaching stuff.
Instead of the dynamic force that had
built a championship program
and elevated the reputation of
a school, he appeared, too often,
to be a grumpy caricature of him
self.
Chris Korman is now the sports
editor at The Baltimore Sun.

Oct 8, 2005:
With a big upset victory Sept. 20, 2008:
over then No. 6 Ohio After a big 45-3 vic-
State, PSU rises to No. 8 Jan. 3, 2006: tory over Temple,
in the AP Poll. “I was Penn State finishes off the season Paterno passes
scared to death the 11-1 and appears in its first ever Bobby Bowden as January 1, 2009:
whole time,” said BCS Bowl game, the Orange major college Penn State reaches
Paterno. “You just hope Bowl, against Florida State. Penn football’s all time the Rose Bowl, but
your kids stay in good State narrowly edges out Florida winningest coach, loses a tough contest
position and do it.” State, 26-23. with 376 wins. to USC, 38-24.

Oct. 7, 2001:
After a 29-27 victory
over rival Ohio State,
Paterno becomes the win-
ningest football coach in
NCAA Division I-A
history, passing Bear
Byrant on the all-time list
with 324 career victories.
Oct. 15, 2005:
Just one week after pulling
off an upset victory over
the Buckeyes, the Lions
themselves are upset by
Michigan, 27-25. The loss
would be Penn State's only
one of the season.
Dec. 29, 2007: Nov. 8, 2008:
Penn State defeats Texas Ranked No. 3, Penn State loses its
A&M, 24-17, in the unbeaten record by falling on the
Alamo Bowl. The game road, 24-23, to Iowa. “Their balloon
marks Paterno’s 500th isn’t busted,” said Paterno. “If we
contest as head coach at win the next two, we’ll have a chance
Penn State. to go to a big bowl… We’ll go home
and cry on Sunday, but Monday
we’ve got to come ready to work.”

REGULAR SEASON NON-FOOTBALL NEWS:

STANDINGS: 77-46
BOWL STANDINGS: 4-2 2000- Y2K Scare dissolves,
Internet stock“Dot Com
Bubble” crashes
2001- Terrorists attack World
ALL-AMERICANS Trade Center; Bush declares
“War on Terror”
Michael Haynes, Defensive 2001- Enron files bankruptcy
Lineman 2002- No Child Left Behind Act
Larry Johnson, Running Back signed, Ex-currencies of Euro-
Jimmy Kennedy, Defensive holding nations are no longer
tackle legal tender
2003- Saddam Hussein captured
Tamba Hali, Linebacker

“
2004- Facebook launches
Paul Posluszny, Linebacker 2005- Hurricane Katrina
It was a great honor and Alan Zemaitis, Cornerback 2006- Barry Bonds hits 715th
Collegian Archive Photo

Dan Connor, Linebacker, home run

privilege to play under him Sean Lee, Linebacker 2006- Steve Irwin dies
2007- Final Harry Potter novel

”
because he’s held in such A.Q. Shipley, Center 2007- iPhone released
Aaron Maybin, Linebacker 2008- Barak Obama elected,
high regard.
Jared Odrick, Defensive End Heath Ledger dies, Wall Street
Gerald Cadogan, Offensive tackle collapses:
2006-2008 2009- Michael Jackson dies
 J O E PA T E R N O

2010
THE DAILY COLLEGIAN THURSDAY, NOV. 10, 2011 | 8

Katie Silvis/Collegian
Joe Paterno celebrates his 400th career win as Penn State's head football coach in 2010 after a Big Ten game against Northwestern.

By Brendan Monahan a mediocre finish. of sadness, sadness over the events

COLLEGIAN STAFF MEMBER
Just a season ago, the Nittany
Lions hoisted Joe Paterno on their
shoulders after his 400th career win.
His eyes gleamed behind his signa-
ture thick black glasses and a smile
arose across his face. He looked
almost uncomfortable in the limelight
as he asked his players to put him
down.
The 35-21 comeback victory
against Northwestern highlighted
the 2010 season — one that ended in
Thinking back on that 2010 game,
which signified Paterno’s legacy up to
that point, it’s stunning how different
things can change in just one year.
The man once idolized must now
answer questions seemingly unfath-
omable just a year ago.
The limelight has changed its
glare, now a blinding, threatening
hue that won’t go away until answers
abound.
Mixed emotions swirl about the
current state of events, but in part,
one universal feeling prevails — that
that transpired and the impending
threat of losing a reputation.
With the current state of things —
emotions and unanswered questions
swirling — it’s hard to grasp the situ-
ation, to come up with any plausible
conclusion until everything comes to
light.
Until that time, we’re forced to face
our emotions, to relive the memories
in our own fashion and simply wait.
Monahan is currently an intake
coordinator/ project manager at
KTMC law firm.

March 6:
The Maxwell Football Club of
Philadelphia establishes the
Joseph V. Paterno Award given June 12: Nov. 6: Dec 16:
to a college coach "to honor the Nebraska Penn State defeats The Big Ten
spirit of Coach Paterno, whose joins the Nowrthwestern, 35-21 Conference
long-time success on the field Big 10 giving Paterno his establishes the
has been matched only by his Conference. 400th career win. Stagg-Paterno
impact away from it". Championship Trophy.

Feb. 21: April 30: Sept. 1: Nov. 14:

Two Penn State gradu- All-American Jared Rob Bolden is named Offensive
ates bid $9,000 for an Odrick is drafted in the starting quarterback. He lineman Stefen
autographed pair of first round of the NFL is the first true fresh- Wisniewski
Paterno's glasses at the draft by the Miami man Paterno has ever is named an
WPSU's Connoisseur's Dolphins. Five other named to this position All-American
Dinner and Auction. former Nittany Lions to begin the season.
are also drafted.

“
Joe's been here for
REGULAR SEASON NON-FOOTBALL NEWS a long time, he's
RECORD: 7-6
Deemed the International Year
of Youth by the United our head coach. To
Nations General Assembly have something

ALL-AMERICANS
Stefen Wisniewski, Guard
At the end of the 2011
Outback Bowl, when Florida
had downed Penn State 37-
24, two coaches, one 46-
years-old and one 84-years-
old, met at midfield to shake
hands honoring their mutual
respect. It would be the final
game for one. It was Urban
Meyer, the 46-year-old, tak-
ing the field for the last time
at the helm for the Gators.
”
January- Burj Khalifa is built in like this happen, it's
Dubai, tallest man-made structure to been really tough.
date,Earthquake in Haiti kills
over 230,000 people Drew Astorino, Safety
2008-2011
February- 2010 Winter Olympics
held in Vancouver
April- Volcanic ash in Iceland disrupts
airways, Deepwater Horizon oil spill
occurs in the Gulf of Mexico
July- Spain wins FIFA World Cup, held
in South Africa, Wikileaks launches
November- Harry Potter and the
Deathly Hallows Part 1 premieres
December- “Don’t Ask,
Don’t Tell” repealed
 J O E PA T E R N O

2011
THE DAILY COLLEGIAN THURSDAY, NOV. 10, 2011 | 9

Cornerback Chaz Powell (2) speaks with former head coach Joe Paterno during warm-ups on the field of Beaver Stadium before Penn State faced Eastern Michigan earlier this season.
By Ryan Loy
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
Entering the 2011 season, know-
ing Joe Paterno was entering the
final year of his contract, there was
one thought that always loomed in
the back of my mind.
How do you write about the
retirement of Joe Paterno?
Like most our age who grew up in
Pennsylvania following Penn State
for much of their life, I don’t know
anything other than Penn State
football with that iconic figure walk-
ing the sidelines.
I was sitting in the corner of the
south end zone when Paterno ran
down those referees after an over-
time loss to Iowa in 2002. It was the
typical fire from the Brooklyn, N.Y.
native that generations of Penn
State fans saw well before I was
born.
But that isn’t the Paterno I’ve had
the opportunity to cover. The fire is
still there, but injuries and old age
won’t allow the Penn State coach’s
flames to shine as bright as they
had in the past. Still, this was a
Paterno-coached team — maybe
more than any squad we’ve seen in
the past couple decades.
The Nittany Lions are winning
with stout defense and an offense
highlighted by a workhorse tail-
Chloe Elmer/Collegian
back, compiling an 8-1 record with
three key games remaining.
When their backs have been
against the wall late in a game,
the Lions have found a way to
win. With the shock of the recent
events and Paterno’s firing, it’s
time to see just how much
Paterno’s lessons can carry on with
his players.
The coach’s players have been
known to go on to do great things
after they left Paterno.
Now, it’s time to how they react
when their coach is taken from
them.
Loy is currently the Daily
Collegian’s football editor.

Aug. 7, 2011:
Paterno suffers right
shoulder and hip Oct. 29, 2011: Nov. 9, 2011:
injuries when wide Paterno passes Eddie Paterno announces that
receiver Devon Smith Sept.11, 2011: Robinson for most he'll retire at the end of
incidentally crashes Penn State loses its wins in FBS history the season, ending his
into him during only game of the sea- with a 10-7 comeback 46-year reign as Penn
practice. son to Alabama 27-11. win over Illinois. State head coach.

Feb. 17, 2011: Sept.3, 2011: Oct. 22, 2011: Nov. 4, 2011:
Paterno’s necktie from Paterno opens his 46th Paterno ties Eddie Former Penn State
his 400th win was auc- season as Penn State Robinson for most defensive coordinator
tioned off for $10,200 head coach with a 41-7 wins in FBS history Jerry Sandusky is
at the 19th annual victory over Indiana with 408 after a 34-24 indicted on 40 counts
Connoisseur's dinner. State. victory over of sex crimes against
Northwestern. children.

REGULAR SEASON NON-FOOTBALL NEWS

RECORD: 8-1
January- Congressman Giffords
THE YEAR SO FAR
Tyler Sizemore/Collegian

is shot in Arizona.
January- Egyptian Revolution
The year is not over yet. There begins
are still three games to be played March- 9.1 Earthquake and
and there is still a chance Penn Tsunami in Japan
State can play in the first ever Big April- The Royal Wedding of
Ten Championship. Prince William and Kate
But if that were to happen, the Middleton
Nittany Lions will be without May- Osama bin Laden killed by
their head coach, the man who Navy SEALS
has led them to an 8-1 record. July- First successful artificial
organ transplant
Tom Bradley is taking over for
July- NASA’s manned space shut-
Paterno and the former defensive tle program concludes with the

“
coordinator will have the tough landing of the Atlantis at the
task of dealing with the Nebraska, Kennedy Space Center
I came here a boy and I left a man. And

”
Ohio State and Wisconsin.
that’s all due to Joe Paterno. If Bradley and his team can stay
focused on the task at hand, this
Chima Okoli, Offensive tackle season could still wind up being a
2008-2011 magical one. Even if it isn’t with
the man who got the Lions to
where they are right now.
October- Libyan Civil War ends
October - President Obama recalls
the troops from Iraq
October- Steve Jobs dies of
pancreatic cancer
November- Penn State Sandusky
scandal hits Penn State.
10 | THURSDAY, NOV. 10, 2011
Board of Trustees fires Joe Paterno
By Mike Still
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
It’s the end of an era.
For the first time since 1966, Joe
Paterno is no longer head football
coach at Penn State.
Amidst recent child sex-abuse
allegations against former Penn
State assistant coach Jerry
Sandusky — which Paterno’s role
in has him under fire from all
directions — the Penn State
Board of Trustees announced
after meeting Wednesday night
that Paterno is done as Penn State
head football coach, effective
immediately.
“These decisions were made
after careful deliberations and in
the best interest of the university
as a whole,” John Surma, Vice
President of the Board of
Trustees, said Wednesday night at
a press conference. “Penn State
has always strived for honesty,
integrity and the highest moral
standards in all of our activities.
We promise you that we are com-
mitted to restoring public trust to
our university.”
Penn State President Graham
Spanier was fired, as well.
Defensive coordinator Tom
Bradley has been announced as
interim head coach.
Paterno had announced
Wednesday morning that he
would retire at the end of the sea-
son.
“I have come to work every day
for the last 61 years with one clear
goal in mind: To serve the best
interests of this university and the
young men who have been
entrusted to my care,” Paterno
said in an official statement. “I
have the same goal today. That’s
why I have decided to announce
my retirement effective at the end
of this season.”
According to Grand Jury
reports, Paterno had received
knowledge of one sexual assault
case involving Sandusky and a 10-
year old boy that occurred in the
showers of the Lasch Building in
2002.
Mike McQueary, a graduate
assistant at the time and current-
ly the Nittany Lions’ recruiting
coordinator and receivers’ coach,
reportedly witnessed Sandusky in
the shower with a boy.
McQueary reported the inci-
dent to Paterno, who then passed
on McQueary’s eye witness testi-
mony to then Director of Athletics
Tim Curley and a vice president,
Gary Schultz.
Both Curley and Schultz have
been charged with perjury.
Paterno has not been accused
of any legal wrongdoing, but he
has been questioned whether he
could have done more to prevent
any of the 40 child sex-abuse
Replacing a legendary sports coach not an easy task
By Andrew Robinson
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
There is no formula to replace a
legend.
With the Board of Trustees
announcement Wednesday night
that Penn State football coach Joe
Paterno has been fired effective
immediately, a giant question
mark now looms regarding who
will eventually be the 84-year-old
coach’s permanent replacement.
Defensive coordinator Tom
Bradley, who is now the interim
replacement, has long been
rumored to replace the iconic
coach. But, he has not been the
only one. Rumors have circled
Happy Valley in recent weeks
about former Florida Gators
coach Urban Meyer taking over.
And Greg Schiano, Al Golden, Bill
Cowher and Tony Dungy are no
different. Regardless of who even-
tually comes in, Paterno’s shoes
are going to be pretty big to fill.
However, Paterno’s permanent
replacement, whether Bradley or
someone else, won’t be the first
person attempting to undertake
such a daunting task.
Some have been successful, like
former North Carolina basketball
coach Bill Guthridge who followed
Dean Smith and reached two
Final Fours in his three seasons.
Others failed, such as basketball
coach Glen Miller, who followed
Fran Dunphy at Penn and was
fired seven games into his fourth
season. No matter the success,
legends get replaced.
“I’d say the majority of people
associate a lot of stuff as stress
and pressure and so forth,” Ray
Perkins, the man who followed
Paul “Bear” Bryant at Alabama,
said. “I’m not sure that it’s that
way with most athletes or most
coaches of all sports. We as coach-
es and we as athletes prepare our-
selves as best that we possibly
can, and then we go out and try to
perform the same way, the
absolute best that we can.”
Replacing Bryant’s 323 wins
was no easy task for Perkins, who
lasted four seasons coaching the
Crimson Tide to a 32-15-1 record.
To make matters worse, Perkins
J O E PA T E R N O
Penn State head coach Joe Paterno speaks briefly with reporters, but with no comment, while on the way to
his car outside of his home in State College on Tuesday afternoon. Paterno was on his way to coach practice.
Sandusky has been charged with.
The state police commissioner
called his lack of efforts a lapse of
“moral responsibility.”
In his statement, Paterno
expressed his grief and his regret
for not taking more action.
“I am absolutely devastated by
the developments in this case,”
Paterno said. “I grieve for the chil-
dren and their families, and I pray
for their comfort and relief. This is
a tragedy. It is one of the great sor-
rows of my life. With the benefit of
hindsight, I wish I had done
more.”
Despite questions surrounding
his involvement in the case and
character, there has been no
shortage of support for Paterno.
On Tuesday night, hundreds of
students trekked to Paterno’s
home on McKee Street to offer
their support to Paterno.
Members of the crowd chanted
Paterno’s name, told him they
loved him and scrambled at the
chance to shake the hand of a liv-
ing legend.
“It’s hard for me to tell you how
much this means to me,” he told
the crowd. “You guys live for this
place. I live for people like you
guys and girls. I’m just so happy to
see that you feel so strongly about
this and your school.”
Penn State’s current players
haven’t shied from backing their
now former coach.
A squad meeting was called
Wednesday morning at the Lasch
building where Paterno told his
team this would be his last year
coaching the Lions.
Players exited the building,
some clearly upset by the expres-
sions on their faces.
“It’s just such a tough thing to
happen,” safety Drew Astorino
said. “Joe’s been here for a long
time, and he’s our head coach, so
it’s been really tough. It was tough
had Alabama’s first losing season
in 27 years during his second sea-
son in 1984.
Perkins, who was an All-
American receiver for Alabama,
left what he called the best job in
the NFL as head coach of the New
York Giants to come back to his
alma mater. He is one of many
coaches hired to replace an icon
that had ties to the coach or pro-
gram.
Perkins played for Bryant,
Guthridge was an assistant to
Smith for 30 seasons, and Gary
Moeller was an assistant coach
under Bo Schembechler at
Michigan before taking over as
head coach.
But coming from the same
coaching tree didn’t necessarily
mean things stayed the same. It
depended on the coach.
“I had worked for Dean for 30
years, so I was pretty much like
him,” said Guthridge, who
replaced the man who at the time
was college basketball’s all-time
winningest head coach. “We had
good players and we went to two
Final Fours in the three years I
coached there. I enjoyed it, I just
ran out of gas.”
It was a little different in
Tuscaloosa.
“We didn’t use the same play-
book, we didn’t use the same prac-
tice schedule, and I’m sure I made
a few decisions that weren’t real
popular decisions,” Perkins said.
“They were what we believed and
how we believed in doing it. But I
understand how people can get
stuck on some things. That’s life,
that’s part of success and part of
moving on to the next generation.”
In the case of Schembechler’s
retirement from coaching, things
were very unique. Not only was
Moeller a Schembechler disciple,
but so was his successor, Lloyd
Carr, and there wasn’t a funda-
mental change in philosophy.
Frank Beckmann, the radio
play-by-play announcer for
Michigan football since 1981, said
it was essentially a seamless tran-
sition from Schembechler to
Moeller.
“Michigan didn’t feel the impact
of a big change until the [Rich]
to hear.”
“He’s an extremely selfless
man,” running back Silas Redd
said. “His legacy that he created
here is going to continue to live
through us and all the future play-
ers that will be here no matter
who’s coaching. It’s been an
absolute honor for me.”
Linebacker Nate Stupar said he
saw Paterno cry for the first time,
and offensive tackle Chima Okoli
said the team gave their coach a
standing ovation after he had
given his players the news.
The unwavering support from
players hasn’t been limited to this
year’s team, either.
Past players from all decades
during Paterno’s career have
offered kind words about their for-
mer coach.
Mickey Shuler Sr., an All-
American tight end for Paterno in
the late 1970s, said he’s proud to
have been associated with
Paterno.
“Joe taught you more than foot-
ball. He taught you life,” Shuler
said. “Football is something you
did while you there, you did the
best you could but it did not com-
pletely define you as an athlete
Penn State.”
Walking around the Penn State
campus, Paterno’s drive to better
the university and its students —
not just the football program — is
evidenced all over.
In 1998, Paterno and his wife
Sue announced a contribution of
$3.5 million to the University for
funding to construct the Penn
State All-Sports Museum and the
Pasquerilla Spiritual Center,
bringing Paterno’s total donations
to the school up to $4 million.
“We have met some wonderful
people here, we’ve known many
students who have gone on to
become outstanding leaders in
their professions and in society,
Rodriguez hiring to replace Lloyd
Carr,” Beckmann said. “That’s
when Michigan went through it,
where somebody from outside a
quote, ‘family’, was brought in to
replace a member of the
Schembechler lineage.”
Beckmann said Moeller kept
basically the same system and
that continuity is one of the
biggest keys in the transition peri-
od.
For the first few years after a
coaching change, the new regime
still has the players the previous
coaching staff recruited, so it’s not
unexpected to see a higher level of
success in the first few years. As
time goes on, however, things
sometimes start to change.
When Mike Davis took over for
Bob Knight at Indiana, he finished
with at least 21 wins in each of his
first three seasons, and he went to
the NCAA title game in 2002. But
his team compiled a .500 record
over the next two seasons and he
resigned at the end of the 2006
season, despite a return to the
NCAA tournament.
“It comes a little bit harder for
the administrations and all the
other people that have to get used
to a new guy,” Perkins said. “They
have to do things in a little bit dif-
ferent ways after they’ve been
done the same way for 25 to 30
years. Joe Paterno has been there
for 61 years. Are you kidding me?
The next group of people that go in
there, they’re gonna do things a
bit differently, everybody does.”
In a lot of cases, whoever takes
over for a legend isn’t there for
very long.
When he retired from UNC in
2000 after three years as head
coach, Guthridge had been in
coaching since 1962. The former
coach said the long hours and lack
of sleep caught up to him prompt-
ing him to step away.
Gene Bartow, the man who fol-
lowed John Wooden at UCLA,
stayed just two seasons on the
Bruins’ bench before leaving to
start the basketball program at
the University of Alabama-
Birmingham. Moeller resigned at
Michigan in 1995 after five years
on the job in the aftermath of an
Chloe Elmer/Collegian
and all of our children have
received a first-class education
here,” Paterno said in 1998. “I’ve
never felt better about Penn State
and its future potential than I do
right now. Sue and I want to do all
we can to help the University
reach that potential.”
In addition to contributing to
charitable events in the State
College community such as the
Summer Olympics, Paterno has
dedicated himself to bettering the
education of each Penn State stu-
dent.
After leading the Lions to a
national title in 1983, Paterno chal-
lenged the university’s Board of
Trustees to make Penn State No. 1
in both athletics and academics.
He and his wife, Sue, led a cam-
paign in 1993 that ultimately
raised more than $13 million for a
new library.
In April of 1997, the Paterno
Library opened its doors to the
student body.
“I think he’s done an outstand-
ing job of creating an identity for
an entire university with the way
he ran the football program,”
Shuler said.
Paterno’s contributions to the
school can only be matched by the
success he’s had on the gridiron.
There’s been more wins than
any other coach in FBS history —
409. There’s been two national
championships, 78-All Americans
and five undefeated seasons since
Paterno took over as head coach
in 1966.
The numbers speak for them-
selves.
Whether he likes it or not,
Paterno will be remembered as a
“good football coach.”
“I’ve been able to play for him
for two years now, and I’ve learned
so much,” Redd said. “And it’s a
sad day today, but we’ll rejoice and
celebrate on Saturday and the
Joe Paterno speaks with former Alabama coach Paul “Bear” Bryant.
arrest for disorderly conduct.
Ron Zook followed Steve
Spurrier at Florida, but didn’t
make it three seasons, being fired
midway through the 2004 season.
Perkins opted to not disclose his
reasons for leaving Alabama, but
after giving up the head coaching
job with the New York Giants to
take over the Crimson Tide, he
returned to the NFL after four
years in Tuscaloosa.
“I think everybody [feels pres-
sure] when they get that kind of
job, they want to succeed,”
Beckmann said. “They want to
have the same kind of success
their predecessor had, and it’s dif-
ficult to follow in a legend’s foot-
steps like that because the expec-
tations are high. The expectations
are that you’re going to continue
to succeed like they did.”
Beckmann saw that firsthand
as he called Moeller’s games.
“Mo ran into his own problems
when he lost games or whenever
he tied games. People thought it
was the end of the world,”
Beckmann said. “Suddenly you go
from 10 wins to nine and people
think the sky is falling when it’s
not.”
It doesn’t have to be the imme-
diate successor either. When Rick
Pitino left Kentucky, Tubby Smith
kept winning, albeit not to
Wildcats fans’ expectations, until
he resigned in 2007. But Billy
Gillispie, who followed Smith to
Lexington, didn’t win at all and
THE DAILY COLLEGIAN
next four games that we need to
win.”
Despite the near hysterics on
campus this week regarding
Paterno, Curley and Penn State
president Graham Spanier, the
No. 12 Lions (8-1, 5-0 Big Ten) still
have a game to play this Saturday.
And it’s no cakewalk.
No. 19 Nebraska (7-2, 3-2 Big
Ten) is visiting Happy Valley for
the time since 2002 to a commence
a Big Ten rivalry after a 19-year
hiatus.
Astorino said regardless of all
the attention centered on the
school, the program and the town,
the team will put everything out of
their minds for just a few hours.
“Once we put the pads on it’s
kind of a relief for that hour and a
half two hours and you just don’t
have to think about it,” Astorino
said. “It’s going to be a tough thing
to do but the character of this
team I know everybody has I think
we can get through it and try to
get a win.”
Before Paterno had been fired,
Penn State players said they were
willing to do anything to send their
coach out on a high note.
“We’re gonna do everything that
we can to finish this great for
him,” said fullback Mike Zordich,
whose father Mike was an All-
American in 1985 under Paterno,
while holding back tears
Wednesday after the team’s meet-
ing. “And to the end this season
the way it needs to be ended, and
hopefully get him off the field on
some shoulders.”
The Lions will not get the
chance to carry their legendary
coach off the field Saturday, but
they can still so him justice.
Atop the Big Ten as the only
undefeated team in conference
play, the Lions are in a position
many couldn’t have predicted
before the season began.
Additionally, in the wake of
Paterno’s swift and unexpected
exit, fewer could have predicted
the 84-year old coach would not be
given a proper farewell.
In his statement released on
Wednesday morning, Paterno
promised he would make the most
of his remaining time as the Lions’
head coach.
“My goals now are to keep my
commitments to my players and
staff and finish the season with
dignity and determination,”
Paterno said in his statement.
“And then I will spend the rest of
my life doing everything I can to
help this University.”
While he’ll no longer walk the
sidelines, pant legs rolled up just
above the ankle, few would doubt
Paterno will continue to devote
himself to the school he loved.
To email reporter: mas5860@psu.edu
Collegian file photo
was out after just two seasons.
Guthridge, who called Smith the
best basketball coach ever, said he
met Paterno in the 70s when the
Penn State coach tried to recruit
him to take over the Nittany Lions
basketball program. He followed
Paterno’s career through the
years and said he had the utmost
respect for what Paterno accom-
plished in his career, holding him
in the same regard he held Smith.
Perkins, who went 1-3 against
Paterno, echoed Guthridge’s sen-
timents regarding Paterno. The
former Tide coach said Bryant is
“Mr. Alabama” and Paterno is
absolutely “Mr. Penn State,” and
that he was sad to see Paterno’s
career closing in this manner.
There is no question filling
Paterno’s office in the Lasch
Building is not a task that will be
taken lightly. Whoever steps in will
be asked to follow a legend, to con-
tinue the success Paterno sus-
tained and honor his ideals. While
this story is yet to be written, the
past shows that the next in line at
Penn State will have a monumen-
tal task in front of them.
“I went in there with my eyes
open and full of pride and honor to
have been the guy chose to follow
[Bryant],” Perkins said. “That’s
how I still feel, I still feel it. I would
have done it 10,000 times had I had
the opportunity. That’s the way I
felt, that’s they way I reacted.”
To email reporter: adr5079@psu.edu
THE DAILY COLLEGIAN J O E PA T E R N O THURSDAY, NOV. 10, 2011 | 11

Chloe Elmer/Collegian Bryan Wade Heritage/Collegian

Nick Sukay (1) and Michael Zordich (9) take down an Eastern Michigan player at Beaver Stadium. Michael Mauti (42) attempts to tackle Temple’s Bernard Pierce (30).

Players, Paterno emotional at meeting difficult time right now.”
By Joe McIntyre
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
He’s ingrained in the fabric of
everything Penn State.
Not just the “now” of this team
and the nine games before his
announcement at 11 a.m.
Wednesday morning. And not just
the last half decade or six decades.
Joe Paterno is in the blood of
Penn State and its players. His
attitude and his dedication runs
not only through this team’s veins,
but their parents’ veins and their
grandparents’ veins. He epito-
mizes this university.
But he’s gone. Fired from the
tradition he built during his more
than six decades in State College.
“Joe Paterno is Penn State, and
a lot of people know that and know
what I’m talking about,” line-
backer Nate Stupar said
Wednesday afternoon before
Paterno was fired. “It’s going to be
weird to come around next season
watching the sidelines and not
seeing Joe, not seeing him in the
press [box] or anything. It’s a
It all happened so fast. Just
days ago the team was enjoying a
Saturday off. Many went home to
be with their families.
No one saw this coming.
The legend was supposed to be
the coach of the Lions forever.
Of course he’s 84 years old, but
the thought never crept into the
minds of the team, fullback
Michael Zordich said.
As players flowed out of the
Lasch Building following the offi-
cial announcement of Paterno’s
retirement, some had their heads
down, some had their hoods on.
Some walked away and gave only
a shake of the hand, too distraught
to comment.
Some spoke, though. It may
have been with an implausible
look on their face and a glassed-
over look in their eyes, but they
tried to express what the end
meant.
As he was asked his first ques-
tion, Zordich, the son of a former
Lion defensive back, uttered an
exasperated sigh and shook his
head. His eyes were red.
“I never thought that I would
hear those words come from Joe
Paterno’s mouth,” Zordich said
before Paterno’s removal. “He’s
been here for so long, it’s unfortu-
nate to have to hear them.”
As Paterno stepped up to the
podium in the squad room of the
Lasch Building, players were
waiting for the inevitable.
Their coach, the one with 409
wins, the wrinkled face and thick,
Coke bottle glasses was going to
tell them that they were to be the
last team he will ever coach.
They didn’t know they had
already seen his last game.
After 45 years as head coach of
the Lions, this 8-1 team ended it.
These 123 guys were the last ones
Paterno coached at Beaver
Stadium.
“He was crying, very
depressed,” cornerback Stephon
Morris said of Paterno before his
termination. “Never seen Coach
get like that. Never seen coaches
get that way. Never seen nobody
get that down before.”
The team received a text mes-
sage just after 10 a.m. this morn-
ing. A previously unscheduled
meeting was going to be held in
the Lasch Building.
Team meetings are generally at
2:45 p.m. before practice at 4:30.
They weren’t exactly positive as to
the message of the meeting, but
there was a general sentiment as
to what the news would be.
The team heard the rumors,
they saw what the masses were
saying. But still, Joe would never
leave. Not like this.
“It’s huge, I can’t really wrap my
head around it right now,” line-
backer Michael Mauti said before
Paterno was fired. “As a team, we
just got out of that meeting in
there, and it’s not really some-
thing I can describe in words.”
After Paterno gave his speech,
the players gave a standing ova-
tion. Paterno is someone who
embodies and exemplifies dedica-
tion and perseverance, offensive
lineman Chima Okoli said.
They were in the presence of
greatness at its weakest.
Okoli said Paterno’s last words
before he left explained how the
players would forever be linked to
Penn State football. They would
forever be a family.
“I came here a boy, and I’m
going to leave a man,” Okoli said
before Paterno was fired. “And
that’s all due to Joe Paterno.”
Still, somehow, the team needs
to put this behind them. They
need to put behind the fact that
they will be the team by which Joe
Paterno will be forever syn-
onymized. For good or bad, this
group of young men is the denoue-
ment of Paterno’s illustrious
coaching career.
“I’m going to be playing my last
football game with some people
that I’ve spent five years with
some people I really, really care
about,” senior safety Drew
Astorino said. “We’re playing for
all we’ve worked for in the past
five years. I’m not sure what to
expect, but I know we’re going to
play together.”
To email reporter: jrm5401@psu.edu

Former players remember iconic coach

Editor’s note: All interviews
were conducted before
Paterno was fired by the
Board of Trustees Wednesday
night.
By Steven Petrella
COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER
When Jack Ham was just an 18-
year-old nobody, Joe Paterno gave
him a chance.
Twenty-two years later, when
Ham was being inducted into the
Pro Football Hall of Fame in
Canton, Ohio, Paterno was his
presenter.
To the former Penn State line-
backer, there was no second, third
or fourth choice regarding whom
would be there to help him cross
the threshold from greatness to
legendary in Canton.
And Ham owes all of it to
Paterno.
“He did more for me than any-
body else in my life,” Ham said. “I
will always be in debt to him.”
Paterno announced Wednesday
that he would step down as head
coach at the conclusion of the 2011
season during the fallout of former
defensive coordinator Jerry
Sandusky’s indictment by a grand
jury on charges of child abuse.
The 84-year-old leaves the pro-
gram as college football’s win-
ningest coach at the Division-I
level and has helped establish
Penn State’s overall image of
character and “Success with
Honor.”
“I think he’s done an outstand-
ing job of creating an identity for
an entire university the way the
ran the football program,” former
tight end Mickey Shuler Sr., who
played from 1976-1979, said. “I’m
proud to have been associated
with him and the things that have
happened at Penn State. I’m sure
when this settles, Penn State will
continue to do things with the
right attitude and the right
actions.”
Ham, who is synonymous with
Penn State’s history of outstand-
ing linebackers, got the last schol-
arship offer Paterno had to give
after the linebacker finished a
post-graduate year at
Massanutten Military Academy in
Woodstock, Va.
He gave Ham the opportunity -
and it changed his life forever.
“Without him, I don’t know
where my life would be,” Ham
said. “I wasn’t Jack Ham the all-
pro player. I was just a nobody 18-
year-old.”
For former offensive guard Ron
Coder, Paterno changed his life for
the better, as well.
He belonged to a military family
- his father was stationed in Japan
during his high school days.
Coder’s grandfather sent some
Penn State assistant coaches,
with whom he was close, a
Christmas card. And since Coder
was so much bigger than his
brothers at the time, Penn State
Jack Ham (33) played under Joe Paterno in the 1960s and 1970s, earning All-American recognition.
said he could walk on and try to
earn a scholarship.
And he did.
“The lessons that you learn and
you take care of the little things
and the big things will take care of
themselves,” Coder said. “Just the
development of character and the
emphasis and you be a good per-
son in the community not just a
good football player. A lot of his
former players are doing some-
thing worthwhile. So that’s a trib-
ute to his teachings and his lead-
ership.”
Former defensive end Dave
Robinson said he remembers a
game in the early 1960s when
Paterno was still an assistant
under Penn State coach Rip
Engle, in which the head coach
was so upset about how his team
played, he wouldn’t talk to his play-
ers at halftime.
So Paterno stepped up, with the
team down, and said, “You guys
just broke the heart of one of the
greatest men in football.”
The team took to Paterno’s
words immediately and went out
and dominated in the second half
to get the win. Even as an assis-
tant, he motivated. He coached.
He inspired that second half
comeback.
“I can’t understand why every-
one wants to try and ruin the
name of one of the greatest coach-
es in football,” Robinson said.
“There’s so many bad things in
football that we never get to cher-
ish the good things. Joe Paterno is
one of the good things about foot-
ball. Joe Paterno is one of the good
things about Penn State and about
college football in general.”
Teaching life lessons Forever linked
Shuler said he’s been able to
carry the life lessons instilled by most of his life to Penn State and
single team, but it’s the entire
community spanning from the
1960s to today.
Coder said he’s still friendly
with guys from teams in the 1980s,
although he played in the early
70s. He added the players from the
early 2000s, in which the program
struggled, still share that fraternal
bond with players
from 30 years prior.
“That would be a common
theme through all the guys, he
really emphasized respect for oth-
ers,” Coder said. “He developed a
chemistry among teams that’s
still there today. He created a com-
mon bond even with guys that did-
n’t play on such good teams. It’s a
great fraternity.”
And now the team will have to
continue that bond without
Paterno.
“They’ve shown a resilience all
year by winning close games.
They’ve been through all that,”
Ham said.
“The most talented football
team? Probably not. But as a
team, you gather that resolve and
realize that [this Saturday] is the
Collegian file photo
senior’s last game. This team has
shown the ability to stay focused
and win pressure games and this
Paterno with him well past his helped turn boys into men during is just another
days on the football field. his 62 years in Happy Valley, he one.”
“I think Joe’s been one of the
won some football games too. Cadogan said the team just has
most consistent influences in my
Some big football games. And he to push everything aside, although
life as far as a coach,” Shuler said.
won a lot of them. he said it would definitely be a dis-
“The things he created for myself Coder said Paterno’s coaching traction during the week.
and my teammates are life long in terms of football preparation “It’s going to come down to the
things and I think he’s always and adjustment is unparalleled. senior leadership and knowing
been able to figure out how to han-
“The press always teased Penn that Nebraska is a good, solid
dle all kinds of situations from
State for being three yards and a team,” Cadogan said.
when I as there.” cloud of dust. Dive left, dive right “They just have to stay focused
Former offensive tackle Gerald
and punt,” Coder said of the and go out there and continue to
Cadogan said Paterno had an Nittany Lions simple offenses run win because they’ve done nothing
unparalleled ability to motivate his
under Paterno. wrong in this situation.”
players. Coder played with Heisman Shuler said regardless of any
But it wasn’t just on the field.
Trophy winner John Cappelletti situation, Paterno has found a way
Paterno’s tools in motivation and said his former teammate is to handle it.
applied in the classroom and one of the most humble guys he Family issues, his kids falling off
throughout the entire university,
knows. a trampoline or anything else - the
which encompasses everything He credits some of that to what team was ready to play come
he’s stood for and everything that
Paterno did to keep his team Saturday.
has been established. grounded and in control, no mat- “He always found a way to keep
“I’ll remember his mindset and
ter how much success the players the team focused and things mov-
his mentality to motivate us,” had on the field. ing in the right direction,” Shuler
Cadogan said. “You see a guy like John, he said.
“Not only for that game or that
probably would’ve been OK if he “His actions and his stan-
week, but in life and things that I
was cocky because of what he dards...he’s been golden.”
still carry with me today.” accomplished,” Coder said. But now, with all that has
Ham said his most important “He’s one of the most humble engulfed State College and made
lesson learned under the Hall of
guys you’ll ever meet and that’s it the pinpoint of the national
Fame coach was how to be a the kind of character Joe develops media’s focus during the last five
human being and not let football
at Penn State. The Penn State days, Shuler still thinks Penn
consume everything. football player is humble and State will return to it’s days of
He wanted his players to stay
when you get out, it stays with character that Paterno prided
levelheaded. you.” himself and his program on.
“He made you understand, Shuler said while Paterno Even though he won’t be here,
when you’re an 18, 19-year-old,always kept it simple, it was about Paterno has paved the way for
just because you’re a football play-
playing the percentages and keep- that.
er, doesn’t make you any better or
ing everything within reach and “My whole entire family has
any worse,” Ham said. reason. gone to Penn State. We’re very
“Football is not the most impor-
“I don’t think much has changed Penn State proud and I’m sure
tant thing in your life. I always
in the game of football, different Penn State will bring itself back in
carry that with me in my life after
situations,” Shuler said of how the right directions and the right
Penn State. You can go out and be
Paterno coaches now, “but it’s the sequence of events,” Shuler said.
a positive role model in your life
same stuff we did when I was play- “Positive things will come out of
moving forward.” ing there.” this. I just feel awful for the alleged
Coder said Paterno was able to victims. But I’m sure the Penn
create a fraternal atmosphere State way will prevail.”
While Paterno has devoted throughout the program.
It wasn’t just a single class or a To email reporter: sjp5260@psu.edu
12 | THURSDAY, NOV. 10, 2011 J O E PA T E R N O THE DAILY COLLEGIAN

JOEPA THROUGH THE YEARS

Not much has changed about Joe. He may be a little bit more wrinkled, his step may be a little bit
slower and his hair may be a little grayer, but he's still Joe. He's still the same Joe that joined the
Penn State staff as an assistant coach for Rip Engle in 1950. He's still the same Joe that created a
national powerhouse at a farm school in the middle of Pennsylvania. And he's still the same Joe
that changed the landscape of college football.
Some may say their perception of the coach has changed over the last week, but behind those coke-
bottled glasses and rolled up khakis is the same man that has patroled the Penn State sideline for
62 years. People's opinion can change. But Joe's image will last forever.

1950 1952 1959 1960 1963

Courtesy of the Penn State University Archives Courtesy of the Penn State University Archives Courtesy of the Penn State University Archives Courtesy of the Penn State University Archives Courtesy of the Penn State University Archives

1964 1966 1967 1968 1969

Courtesy of the Penn State University Archives Courtesy of the Penn State University Archives Courtesy of the Penn State University Archives Courtesy of the Penn State University Archives Courtesy of the Penn State University Archives

1971 1972 1973 1980 1983

Courtesy of the Penn State University Archives Courtesy of the Penn State University Archives Courtesy of the Penn State University Archives Courtesy of the Penn State University Archives Courtesy of the Penn State University Archives

1985 1986 1987 1989 1992

Courtesy of the Penn State University Archives Courtesy of the Penn State University Archives Courtesy of the Penn State University Archives Sara Eichmiller/Collegian Courtesy of the Penn State University Archives

1995 1997 1998 2001 2002

Michael Palmeri/Collegian Courtesy of the Penn State University Archives Courtesy of the Penn State University Archives Daniel Collins/Collegian Mike Bencivenga/Collegian

2004 2006 2008 2010 2011

Matt Sowers/Collegian Andrew Lala/Collegian Abby Drey/Collegian Alexis Simchak/Collegian Chloe Elmer/Collegian